An afternoon feting Fanny Cole and a magical evening with Harry Potter. An open-flame feast and a drive-through spookfest. Ghost hunts and ghoulish storytelling. All the magic of the season sweeps into Winchester in October.
Winchester Haunted Walking Tour – 7:30-9 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays through October, beginning on Saturday, Sept. 28: Hear tales of murder, mayhem and ghostly apparitions on a 90-minute, two-mile walk along the original brick sidewalks of Winchester’s historic Thomson neighborhood and downtown Main Street. Ghost Host Jamie Gillette delves into Winchester’s ghoulish past as she discusses the history of the buildings and neighborhood found during her research. Wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Flashlights will be provided. Tickets ($21/person) may be purchased here. A portion of tour proceeds will be donated to the Clark County Animal Shelter.
2nd Annual Fanny Fest – 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5: Join the tribute to Winchester’s first legal cider maker: Fanny Cole. Cole was an African American woman born into slavery whose husband bought her freedom in 1827. She had numerous business interests and, at the time of her death, had amassed an estate worth more than $200,000 in today’s dollars. Abettor Brewing and the Winchester Black History and Heritage Committee have teamed up for the second annual Fanny Fest, an event honoring the legacy of this unstoppable entrepreneur, while also raising money for local scholarships. Live music, local artists, craft vendors, food trucks, a ginger cake bake-off, special cider releases and a Fanny Cole reenactment are all part of the fun.
Ghost Hunt on South Main – 8-11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 and 12: Experience the paranormal firsthand on a guided hunt using EMF (electromagnetic field) meters, ghost boxes and infrared and thermal devices. Amy’s Asian Kitchen, in cooperation with Whiskey and Wiles Photography’s John Paul “JP” Martin and Mason on Main’s Mason Rhodus, present this unique experience combining ghost hunting and ghost stories and a post-hunt cocktail in the VIP Lounge above Amy’s Asian Kitchen (usually accessible by members only). Tickets ($20/person) may be booked online here. Participants must sign a waiver. Limited space available.
Feast Over Fire: Farm to Table x Wine Pairing – 5-7 p.m., Oct. 6: Harkness Edwards combines a farm-to-table dinner grilled over an open flame by James Beard Award-nominated Chef Isiah Screetch and live music by folk/country music artist Casey Hensley for an unforgettable evening of fine dining and community. This event features four food stations—each offering a unique culinary experience and each paired with a wine from Harkness Edwards’ vineyard.
A portion of event proceeds will benefit Black Soil KY, a non-profit organization dedicated to reconnecting Black Kentuckians with their heritage in agriculture. Meander the vineyard grounds and enjoy this unique culinary experience accompanied by exquisite wines and live music. Purchase tickets ($95/person) here.
Halloween Lights Drive Through – Friday, Oct. 11-Saturday, Oct. 26: Enjoy the sights, sounds and scares of over one and one-half miles of Halloween lights and displays from your car during this event hosted in the campground of Fort Boonesborough State Park. $5/car. Information: 859-527-3454.
“The campers set up on their sites throughout the campground,” said Park Manager Jack Winburn. “There are thousands of lights and hundreds of blow-ups plus displays of flowers, ghosts, vampires and other Halloween-themed items.”
Hogwarts Themed Cooking Class – 4-6 p.m. Oct. 13 and 26: Calling all wizards and witches! Join Harkness Edwards Vineyard and Sweet and Sassy Ashley’s for a one-of-a-kind Harry Potter experience and cooking class. Enter the world of Hogwarts’ Grand Dining Hall and be sorted into your house. Each house will prepare a three-course meal sure to please any member of the Ministry of Magic. Dinner will include a Gillyweed salad, Yule Ball Goulash and make-your-own Butter Beer to enjoy with Pumpkin Pasties. (Godric Gryffindor is even bringing his Bacon Cheddar Ale Bread.) Purchase tickets ($75/person) here. Each ticket includes a glass of wine.
Winchester Walks Presents . . . A Virtual Ghost Walk – 7-9 p.m. Oct. 25: A ghoulishly fun evening unfolds at The Hall Coffee & Social Club when Winchester Walks teams up with the House of Ghastly, the Crystal Coven Mystic Cottage, Ghostly Preservations, PK’s Gift Closet and others for an evening featuring a virtual ghost tour and ghost stories, plus signature cocktail/mocktail and Halloween shopping. Tickets ($20/person + tax) are available here.
Winchester Zombie Pub Crawl, Oct. 26, 6:30 p.m.: Undead cocktails, music, fun and all manner of scary creatures—it’s the 4th Annual Zombie Pub Crawl presented by the Engine House Pizza and Pub. Ghouls and goblins meet on the Courthouse steps at 6:30 p.m. and depart for the first stop at 7 p.m. According to Chad Walker, the event has grown in attendance each year, bringing participants from as far away as Cincinnati and St Louis. Watch the restaurant’s Facebook page for the list of target locations, which will include specialty cocktails available only to participants.
Pop-Up Fall Market by All Your Events By Reena – 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Oct. 26: Head to 100 Depot Street for this free event featuring these vendors: Galaxy Shroom Soaps, Paige’s Crafty Corner, Harkness Edwards Vineyards, Earthbound forager, Tim Wright Handcrafted, Rustic Products LLC, Avery’s Grace, Yugen Esthetics, MushStitch, Jaibriez Novelties, Sugar Cloud, Yorkie Mamas and Kentucky River Foothills, as well as Bluegrass Bully Rescue and NYAP National Youth Advocate Program, plus a variety of food trucks, including Bell on Wheels. Free parking, too. Tickets here.